Talent knows no age limits
A mild-mannered retired Addison plumber flew into the spotlight as the "Man of Steel."
And when 68-year-old Chuck Christensen sat before his steel guitar for "Senior Idol" during the 12th annual Senior Lifestyle Expo, he got super support from his daughter and grandchildren.
"When I retired in 1995, the kids gave me a dog. The company gave me a clock. And I bought myself a steel guitar," said Christensen, who plays once a month at a Villa Park church.
In its second year, "Senior Idol" is a main attraction at the expo, said Connie Kobitter, special events manager for the Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, which hosts the event.
The expo continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace.
Organizers said about 2,000 people attended Wednesday's sessions, which featured booths with health providers and financial planners.
Over her 27 years with the agency, Kobitter said, the type of seniors she's seeing have changed.
"Seniors now are much more active. Age 70 is now like 55," Kobitter said. "With longer life expectancies, the people who are well and healthy are supporting those in their 90s."
Compared to seniors of previous eras, "The age we are doesn't compare with our parents. I think I feel younger than they did," said Ann Marie Farris, 61, of Des Plaines.
Wearing tinted brown sunglasses, a suit adorned in gold-sequins, and her diamond necklace with a musical clef pennant, Farris sang "He Touched Me" in the style of her idols: Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand.
The three judges apparently liked her vocal styling.
Farris was one of the eight finalists chosen for today's competition.
The other finalists include: LeRoy Roath and Joe Schrantz, both of Villa Park, performing "Casey at the Bat"; singing duo Georgia Hamilton and Martha McMillen, both of Wheaton; and Wayne Laszczak of Bartlett.
Four more finalists will be chosen today out of a group of 21 contestants. They are scheduled to start performing at 10 a.m.
The Senior Idol finals are then to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Drury Lane's main stage.
The overall winner will receive $100. In separate vocal and non-vocal categories, there will be gold, silver and bronze medal winners who will receive $75, $50 and $25, respectively.